Recently the Isle of Dogs was almost gridlocked due to three floods from water mains.
Westferry Circus, Island Gardens and Cubitt Town all suffered obstructions. The reason is the weight of traffic on the roads and this is the result of the massive scale of development on the Island.
Just before this yet another mega tower was passed by the combined votes of Tower Hamlets First and Labour.
Since May, Conservative Councillor Andrew Wood of Canary Wharf ward has become an indefatigable campaigner for managed development on the Island.
He has visited road after road and block after block to encourage residents to establish a neighbourhood Planning Forum. This will enable residents’ concerns to be included in future policy.
As well as the scale of development on South Quay, our largest registered social landlord, One Housing, is starting a consultation exercise which may see the 2,000 properties they manage expand to 9,000 and the redevelopment of the four major estates on the Island.
This also needs to be resident-led. Too often, consultation means the deal is done. Our roads and DLR are full; water pressure is a serious problem.
We need more schools and doctors. Ikea is coming to Greenwich. What will the Blackwell tunnel be like then?
Islanders deserve better than this discredited policy of unabated development.
Peter Golds is Conservative councillor for Island Gardens.